Inside the Accelerator MBA: Six months in

Now six months into their Accelerator MBA, we catch up with Alannah, Henry and Caroline for the second instalment of this six-part blog series as we follow them through their MBA journey. Discover how they’re finding the return to learning, their favourite modules and how the CareersPlus team is already supporting them in achieving their goals.

How have you found the experience of returning to learning?

Alannah: Returning to learning in a university environment has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. I hadn’t realised how much I missed the structured academic setting, not to mention the pleasure of meeting new, like-minded people. Tapping back into old skills of reading academic papers, synthesising ideas and writing essays has brought a rewarding challenge to my routine. I have also been surprised at how much learning I have brought back into my job. This has really enhanced my experience, and the practical application of theory has really solidified my learning.

Henry: Having previously completed a distance learning Master's degree at St Andrews while living abroad, I really appreciated the flexibility that format offered. However, for my MBA, I knew I wanted an in-person element as I believe one of the main benefits of the programme is the connections you build with your peers and teachers. Returning to an academic setting has been both brilliant and demanding. The material is fascinating, and I find myself learning new, practical skills that I can immediately apply to my job. At the same time, the structure and access to academic literature have been a refreshing challenge.

Caroline: Coming all the way from Hong Kong to London for each module wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew it was the right one. I wanted to make sure every step of the way was meaningful, and the academic journey has proven to be just that. London may be far from home, but this experience—both in and outside the classroom—has made the journey worthwhile. It’s about challenging the status quo, learning new things, and applying those insights to the world around me.

How do you balance your studies, work, and personal life?

Alannah: Balancing the demands of my job which is fast paced, with MBA studies hasn’t been without its challenges. I’ve found time-blocking to be an essential strategy. Setting aside specific periods purely dedicated to studying or assignment writing has helped me remain consistent, even on busy days.

I also deferred a module during a particularly intense period at work, which allowed me to focus fully on my professional responsibilities without compromising my academic performance. The Warwick MBA programme has been very supportive in providing this flexibility and knowing I can adapt the timeline if needed makes this experience far more manageable.

My biggest piece of advice for anyone pursuing an MBA is to be clear about why you want to do it and write it down. I’ve found this a helpful tool to remind myself why I’m here and what I’m striving towards, especially at times of increased pressure. It’s also made decision making easier around essay topics and elective selection, as I sense check these against why I wanted to achieve through my MBA.

Henry: Balancing my studies, work, and personal life has certainly had its challenges, but the structure of the Accelerator MBA has made it manageable. The schedule is ideal for me, as each module starts with a bit of a sprint through online classes and face-to-face sessions, followed by a period of self-paced learning. I’ve found that spreading out my work throughout the module, dedicating a couple of evenings or weekends to background reading, and then ramping up closer to deadlines works best. The format is flexible enough to fit around my work, and I feel like I’ve started to find a good cadence.

Which module has been the most impactful for you to date, and why?

Alannah: Strategic Thinking has been the most impactful module for me to date. This was one of the modules I was most looking forward to before starting, and I wasn’t disappointed. I particularly enjoyed how this module encouraged practical application and included a range of interesting case studies. The real-time relevance of the strategy module made the learning experience not just theoretical but directly actionable, enhancing my ability to assess and shape our current business strategies. It’s empowering to see how the skills I’m developing can be utilised immediately, reinforcing the value of each module.

Henry: I’ve really enjoyed all the modules so far but I found the Strategic Thinking module particularly enjoyable. The material was current and incredibly relevant to my role, offering tools for analysing complex problems. The individual assignment for this module was challenging, but I found it highly rewarding. It pushed me to develop critical thinking skills in areas I hadn’t explored before and gave me practical tools to tackle complex business issues.

Caroline: One of the modules that has truly stood out to me is Operations Management. It’s not just a module; it’s a toolkit that has helped me approach my work from an entirely new perspective.

At the time, I was involved in a project reengineering the baggage claim process, and this course provided me with the academic framework to deepen my understanding of the work I was already doing. Learning about layout design, lean ground handling processes, and the way baggage claims connect to the broader supply chain network has opened my eyes to the intricacies of operational strategy. It’s fascinating to see how these seemingly separate components are part of one interconnected system.

The academic environment allows me to step back and analyse the entire process in a way that wasn’t possible before. I’m not just focusing on practical improvements, but also understanding the theoretical underpinnings of why certain strategies work and how to make them more efficient. The ability to apply what I’ve learned directly into real-life projects has been incredibly empowering, and I’m excited to see how this knowledge can lead to even greater impact in my future work.

How have you found the Careers Plus sessions?

Alannah: The CareersPlus sessions have been an invaluable addition to my MBA experience. My key takeaway so far is realising that I don’t need to wait until graduation to start applying what I’m learning to shape my career path. I’m already identifying opportunities, like how I might leverage my dissertation, to strategically align with and support my long-term goals.

Henry: The CareersPlus team has been fantastic. I’ve benefited from both the group sessions attached to the modules and one-on-one sessions. These have really helped me reflect on how to maximise the MBA experience. Interestingly, one of the sessions on interview techniques has had an unexpected benefit - improving my skills as an interviewer. I’ve been able to conduct better interviews in my current role, and I think it’s also helped candidates showcase their skills more effectively.